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  3. 176026-2487

Decent mid fi with Onkyo tax-nr809

I previously owned various brands - Counterpoint, Cary, VTL, Usher Audio, Quicksilver, Mirage, Monarchy Audio, Doge….. and more. Sold it all years back and wanted to get back in recently but on a strict budget. So I acquired an older Onkyo tx-nr809 home theater receiver for $150. Retailed about $1100 when new. Added an older Nad dvd/cd player for $50, a $150 Schiit Modi dac. Tried a Polk Rt/Cs surround set up. Well sounded like crap to be honest. Swapped out the polks and got a pair of Tekton Lore speakers for $500. Running the Onkyo in pure direct mode - 2 channel which bypasses all the surround processing, room correction, and tone controls. All I can say is wow!!!! Not quite at the level of some of my prior set ups and equipment but honestly much closer than I would have imagined. Don’t over look some of the older higher end surround receivers repurposed for a 2 channel up. An excellent value !!!! Anyone else taking this approach???

pdspecl
dweller's avatar
dweller
3,786 posts
 

The topic of this post is dear to my heart. My go-to for "very good sound" on the cheap is the Sony STR DA1000ES receiver. I recently purchased my third from ebay for $130 or so. This box is just so musical. Can't believe the bass coming out of my KEF aluminum "egg" speakers (3" woofers?). Great sound.

My Onkyo TX-SR876 HT receiver ($1400 in 2008) is my HT workhorse. You should see the power supply transformer in this baby! I think there is a cottage-industry looming for using these power supplies when the receiver dies. Would make a great two-channel amp. Would break my heart to just throw it away.

 

elliottbnewcombjr
5,461 posts
 

I agree with OP.

Prior Onkyo AVR TX-NR626 sounded darn good, 5.1 and 2 Channel Stereo. (Idle, I needed more HDMI inputs))

Current Sony STR-DN1080 also sounds darn good. 5.1 and 2 Channel Stereo

My small Home Theater, I often use DIRECT, or change from 5.1 to 2 Channel with preferable results.

Inputting 2 Channel content, it would automatically choose 2 channel or I would 'force' it.

Of course your main front speakers need to make good sound, mine are DBX Soundfield 100's with a 10" woofer. Enough Bass for 2 Channel in my situation. Sub is 'in' only for 5.1 video. If it was my main music system, it would be very nice but not outstanding, due primarily to the speakers and space.

http://www.hifi-classic.net/review/dbx-soundfield-100-135.html

 

 

russ69's avatar
russ69
3,518 posts
 

I’m sure the OP is enjoying his combination but I’m not sure it rises to the mid-fj level. Pretty much entry level. Most of us started with a receiver and a pair of loudspeakers. 

erik_squires
16,119 posts
 

I'm not sure how the Onkyo sounds in 2-channel direct mode, but my experience with a previous HT receiver was that the movie mode sound was pretty awful.  The decoding in my Oppo was so much better sounding. 

pdspecl OP
254 posts
 

When I got the Onkyo and hooked it up to the polks there was not one surround mode/setting that even sounded remotely decent.   So I assumed the receiver was crappy too to be honest.   I then acquired the Tekton Lores and wanted to play them immediately upon purchase to ensure their were no issues with the speakers.   The 2 channel audio quality in direct mode versus surround setting/polk set up was night and day.   Totally not expected.   It’s just musical, detailed…...   I’m sure it’s limitations are it the finer details it can’t reproduce versus better gear.     But I agree that in surround mode it’s lame

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